Ooooh, la la! My good friend, Joan, just mentioned to me how she shall be jetting off to Paris for a two-week vacation at a flat (“apartment” for us Yanks), nestled at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. I must admit, if it were anybody else, I might be “vert” (green) with envy and “un peu” (a little) jealous. Because it’s Joan, and she’s such a good “amie” (friend), I am nothing but “heureuse” (happy). And, there, my dear readers, is my “coup d’essai” (first foray) into a bilingual blog!

I wish I lived in a world permanently filled with sun-dappled rainbows and fluffy, puffy, floating clouds. It would be fabulous to emerge through my front door and be greeted by cavorting Care Bears and sweet, smiling, somersaulting Snuggles (the laundry detergent) teddy bear as well. Imagine strolling through a summer’s day, surrounded by gamboling woodland critters and flitting, fluttering sky dwellers. Magic!

Annette Funicello passed away on April 8, 2013, at the age of 70. I heard the news on the radio as I was working on an editing assignment for a book publisher. The subject matter was rather esoteric and scientific, and I needed a mental rest. Then I heard the ABC news anchor intone that “a vestige from many people’s childhoods has died today.” He went on to list Ms. Funicello’s achievements as a young TV star on “The Mickey Mouse Club,” her roles in the Frankie Avalon “Beach Party” movies, and her time spent as a pitchwoman for Skippy peanut butter. The announcement instantly struck me and transported me to a time nearly two decades ago.

The other night, we were watching the news and there was a heartbreaking story about a local fire that wiped out several houses on a block. As always, the film crews caught the scenes of flames shooting high into the air; firefighters standing and aiming high-powered hoses, attempting to extinguish the inferno; witnesses gathered around, trembling in the cold weather, watching half their neighborhood incinerate and become a memory.

I love the pageantry and flair of the Oscars. When movies, which I’ve seen and enjoyed, are nominated, that’s an extra added bing to all of the Academy Award bling. When I’m not familiar with most of the nominees, it’s a long night of gawking at glamour and rubbernecking at long-legged starlets and hunky, handsome heartthrobs. Luckily, this year, I had caught 6 of the 9 Best Picture candidates, and 3 of the Animated Movie choices. So, we were certainly excited to see how the evening would unfold.